Bob Dole: Trump Would Be A Better GOP Nominee Than Cruz

The GOP’s 1996 presidential nominee, former Sen. Bob Dole, said Wednesday that the GOP will suffer “wholesale losses” in 2016 if Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) becomes the Republican nominee.

In an interview with the New York Times, Dole said Trump would be a better nominee for the party, but Dolwho backs Jeb Bush in the 2016 race.

“I question his allegiance to the party,” Dole said of Cruz. “I don’t know how often you’ve heard him say the word ‘Republican’ — not very often.”

Dole said that he is concerned that because Cruz isn’t a likable person in Washington, it would make it difficult for him to get anything done with Congress. “I don’t know how he’s going to deal with Congress,” Dole said. “Nobody likes him.”

And Dole argued that Donald Trump would be in a better position to strike deals with Congress. “I think Trump can probably work with Congress, because he’s, you know, he’s got the right personality and he’s kind of a deal-maker,” Dole said.

Dole said that he believes Cruz could not defeat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “No, he’s not that person. If he does [run], I think she’ll win in a waltz,” Dole said speaking of Cruz. “I think she’d be a pretty easy target in the general, if we nominate the right person.”

Dole has endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. In the interview he expressed that Bush was an “honest guy who’s had experience.” However, he said that Bush needs “to break out, and he hasn’t done it yet.”